CHAPTER 47…………………………………………………….
He looked at Perrphone with a startled expression, unable to avert his gaze. But there was no emotion on Perrphone’s face.
No confusion that he could grasp, no suspicious eyes filled with distrust—nothing.
The Perrphone Dinea Daus standing in front of him now was a stranger.
Her eyes looked at him as if she were a completely unrelated person, with none of the warm smile or gentle gaze that had always been directed at him.
“I can’t shake the feeling that someone else is pretending to be the princess.”
It was something he hadn’t expected to hear from anyone outside the ducal household.
He knew better than anyone how hard April had worked to imitate him perfectly.
Her tone, expressions, even small habits, and her voice—all copied exactly.
After forcing her to perfectly mimic him, she had been expelled from the ducal house.
If April had truly intended to deceive everyone, no one would have noticed. Yet…
Had she been found out? The unexpected words made his heart tremble like a tiny boat caught in a storm.
“What… what’s different?”
He tried to keep his composure with a faint smile, but the edge of his voice betrayed him.
He had thought Perrphone’s face was doll-like and beautiful, but seeing her expression devoid of emotion, it truly felt like a doll pretending to be human.
The golden eyes staring at him slowly began to darken.
“I told you back then,” she said.
The tremor in his heart began to calm at her even-toned voice.
“Everything.”
He drew a sharp breath, having almost forgotten how to breathe as he stared at Perrphone. She pushed her hair back, slightly tired, and answered.
“Since you asked, don’t cry like last time. I don’t want it to be awkward.”
So April had asked Perrphone that same question before. And back then… Perrphone had also answered “everything” to April.
There was still someone left who remembered him after their bond had been forcibly severed.
Someone who could still distinguish between him and April. The thought made a corner of his heart ache.
Especially since he had thought he wouldn’t feel this during the year he would spend in the capital acting as April’s double.
Perrphone let out a small sigh and continued walking.
“Of course, it could also be, as the princess says, that I inherited my father’s madness.”
April had really said that? What was she thinking…?!
It was a line that could easily have cost her her life for insulting royalty.
Insane. One moment he had admitted to having feelings for Perrphone, and now she was talking about mental illness in front of him.
And because it was him who said it, Perrphone must have been somewhat shocked. Did he need to apologize or not?
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to apologize simply because he hadn’t said it.
There was no guarantee that when April returned to the ducal house, she wouldn’t say the same thing again to Perrphone.
“…I wasn’t in my right mind when I said it back then… I apologize, Your Highness.”
“There’s no need to apologize.”
The lack of harshness in her tone made him frown in slight confusion.
Noticing his gaze, a small, faint smile appeared on her face.
“Because by saying that, I could be sure that the princess isn’t the Epi I knew.”
As they turned toward the ducal house instead of the royal palace, he hesitated.
“Your Highness, the palace is—”
“It’s late, so I’ll take you to the ducal residence.”
“….”
“Besides, you’re still my betrothed.”
Their footsteps echoed quietly on the empty street as they walked toward the ducal house.
Should he tell Perrphone the truth?
In a year, she would realize he was not April.
Knowing that, wouldn’t it be better to be honest with Perrphone now?
He stole a glance at her as she walked silently ahead.
When the grand gate of the ducal house appeared, he asked softly.
“So after the annulment, you’ll look for the April of your memories?”
“….”
“All the royal court will think you’re strange.”
They would surely spread the rumor that he inherited his father’s madness. Considering Perrphone’s past episode of aphasia, such absurd gossip could reach the palace, maybe even the entire empire.
“You’re not looking for the April from your memories.”
Had he said something wrong? Perrphone corrected him.
“I’m looking for the real April, princess.”
“Pfft!”
Her eyes widened in surprise at his firm words, then she burst into relieved laughter.
Even if not full-throated laughter, she chuckled, shoulders shaking, and exhaled.
She was the real April. After living her whole life as a double, it was astonishing that, to Perrphone, she was truly the original.
And at the same time, she felt thankful.
She responded to him, who was stunned by her sudden laughter.
“Please, find her properly.”
She wanted to say it first to Perrphone, but swallowed that impulse.
She would wait for the right moment to speak freely.
And that moment would come in the near future.
As dawn began to break, the blackness slowly faded, revealing Perrphone’s surprised expression even more clearly.
“You can go back to the palace on your own now, Your Highness.”
“….”
“To avoid being seen by Sir Lervian.”
Just as she gave a light wink and turned, her forward movement stopped, and a cold hand gripped her wrist.
It was much bigger and rougher than before, pressing clearly against her skin.
Startled by the touch, she looked up.
She had seen many sides of Perrphone today—his indifferent face, his faint usual smile, even his surprised expression.
She had thought she had seen a variety of his expressions after three years, but now the face Perrphone showed was unexpectedly flustered and unfamiliar.
Slightly angry, she asked worriedly:
“What is it, Your Highness?”
His expression seemed both angry and on the verge of breaking.
“Please, find her properly.”
Normally, she would have interpreted that as sarcasm—after all, April had once joked about madness being inherited from his father.
But now, it didn’t sound harsh at all.
April, in Epi’s form, was smiling as he remembered her.
The face that had looked at her like a little sister—the smile that restored the gray, fading memories over the past three years to bright and vivid.
“You can go back to the palace alone now, Your Highness.”
“….”
“To avoid being seen by Sir Lervian.”
Even the slight wink he used to give when keeping secrets.
A face she hadn’t seen even once in three years—and never thought she would see again—was turning and disappearing.
The last time she had seen that smile had been three years ago.
Fearing he might disappear again after showing it, Perrphone unconsciously grabbed her wrist.
Her beige hair tied below swayed like a wave.
Her startled teal eyes were fixed in his sight.
“What is it, Your Highness?”
The confusion and unease ebbed like the tide, replaced by a faint anger.
“Your Highness?”
Even though she wasn’t the real Epi, she didn’t want Epi to smile like this.
“…Don’t smile like that.”
“Huh?”
Her hands went to her cheeks as she hesitated, wondering if the smile she had just made looked strange.
Seeing April’s wide-eyed expression, Perrphone ground her teeth.
It was the same anger she had felt whenever the princess mimicked April, but this time it was subtly different.
“Your Highness?”
April stepped closer, curious about the silent Perrphone.
Normally, she would hesitate to touch him since he would refuse, but today she touched him naturally. Perrphone’s breath caught.
The touch reminded him of childhood—a gentle hand sweeping stray hair from his forehead.
As they had been long ago, when their statuses didn’t matter, she asked comfortably:
“Why suddenly? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”
Startled by the concern in his voice, she quickly withdrew her hand and moved away like fleeing.
